The Philippines’ very own Jholan Peñafiel is set to conquer the bartending stage when she competes on March 5 to 7 at the highly-anticipated TGIFridays World Bartender Championship in Dallas, Texas.

Jholan Peñafiel, a bartender from TGIFridays Greenbelt, poured, mixed and ‘flaired’ her way to the Asia-Pacific Championship held last year, earning her the right to represent the region in the international competition. World-class techniques, audience engagement, outstanding technical knowledge of TGIFridays bar elements enabled to win over the other contestants from Asia. And now, she’s ready to join the elite circle of the best TGIFridays bartenders from the USA, Latin America, United Kingdom and Europe as she vies for the much-coveted of King (or Queen) of the Bar honor. Current champion, Lauren Flintham of Limassol, Cyprus, will turn over the title to the deserving contestant.

Jholan Peñafiel

Peñafiel has been training relentlessly for months and will now showcase her bartending moves, mastery of hundreds of beverage recipes and engaging personality. The first phase of the competition is the Compulsory Round, a skills test that involves technicalities and speed and accuracy of pouring drinks. Then, the show-stopping display of mixing, juggling, flipping, tossing and catching bottles and glasses with aplomb and perfection, will be staged in the Freestyle Competition. Peñafiel is hopeful and excited as she tries to top both rounds to bag the championship title.

Should Peñafiel win at the World Barchamps, she will be the second Filipina to be bestowed the much-coveted the title, following in the footsteps of Rizza Umlas, the youngest and the first female to win the Barchamps at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas in 2015. A male TGFridays bartender, Eric “El Terrible” Martinez, also brought home the world title in 2006.

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